Alaska Airlines Is About to Make History With Its First-Ever Flights to Europe

After nearly a century of operating almost exclusively within North America, Alaska Airlines is weeks away from one of the most significant milestones in its 93-year history. According to Cirium scheduling data, Alaska Airlines will operate its inaugural flight on the new route from Seattle to Rome on April 28, 2026. With crew training, slot arrangements, and proving flights now underway, the transatlantic era for this Pacific Northwest carrier is no longer a distant ambition, it arrives this month.

A Transformation Made Possible by the Hawaiian Merger

The foundation for Alaska's European push was laid when the carrier acquired Hawaiian Airlines in late 2024, inheriting a fleet of Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners that gave it widebody capability for the very first time. Alaska currently has four 787-9s in its fleet, with a fifth scheduled to be delivered by the end of this year, and is establishing a 787 hub in Seattle, deploying up to 17 Dreamliners across its global network. 

The new long-haul ambition has a geographic rationale too. When Alaska Airlines presented its 'Alaska Accelerate' plan in December 2024, its presentation outlined that Seattle is closer to 90% of the world's population than other major West Coast hubs, with Seattle having a 10% distance advantage when flying to Rome compared to Los Angeles and/or San Francisco. 

Why Rome First

Rome was described as the most popular European city not served by nonstop flights from Seattle, and was “consistently among the most-requested destinations for Mileage Plan members.” The personal connection runs deep for the airline's leadership, too. As Alaska CEO Ben Minicucci put it:

 "Serving Rome nonstop from Seattle is a dream come true. As an Italian American whose parents emigrated from Italy, this is a particularly meaningful addition to our network. Rome has been at the top of the list ever since we announced our new global gateway out of Seattle. Our guests have been asking for an easy way to get to Italy for years, and we're thrilled to provide it to people in the Northwest and beyond. Andiamo – let's go!" 

Alaska Airlines' aircraft of choice on the Seattle–Rome route is the widebody Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. The seasonal services will run daily throughout the summer, with the last rotation currently pencilled in for October 23. Demand has already influenced the schedule significantly: due to strong guest response, Alaska increased the Seattle–Rome flight frequency from 4 times a week to daily, making it the only airline offering the convenience of a daily nonstop.

London and Reykjavík to Follow

Rome is just the opening act. May will subsequently see Alaska Airlines also operate its first services from Seattle to London Heathrow Airport in the United Kingdom and Reykjavík Keflavík International Airport in Iceland. 

The London service, launching May 21, will operate on a daily year-round basis, unlike the seasonal Rome flights, and will face considerable competition from fellow oneworld member British Airways, as well as SkyTeam carriers Delta Air Lines and Virgin Atlantic. Crucially, securing Heathrow slots was no small feat. Alaska Airlines had the backing of its oneworld alliance partners, American Airlines and British Airways, who came to the rescue and lent some of their precious take-off and landing slots at Heathrow to help bring Alaska Airlines to London.

Alaska's third and final European route this year will link Seattle with Reykjavík Keflavík International Airport, served by a narrowbody Boeing 737 MAX 8, the first-ever transatlantic scheduled service by that aircraft type for the carrier. This seasonal route will be the last of the three to start, with its first flight taking off on May 28 and its final rotation on September 7. 

The Competition Responds

Alaska's entry into the Seattle–Rome corridor has already stirred rivals. Alaska's newfound presence on the corridor between Seattle and Rome prompted Delta Air Lines to react within weeks by adding four weekly flights of its own on this route, commencing on May 6 using Airbus A330-900s. The transatlantic price war has already begun, with Alaska offering introductory fares to Rome as low as $599 roundtrip and fares to London available from $699 roundtrip.

The Onboard Experience

The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft features 34 business-class suites with sliding privacy doors, arranged in a 1-2-1 configuration. The brand partnerships reflect a distinctly Pacific Northwest identity. Food, beverage and amenity partnerships include Salt and Straw, Straightaway Cocktails, Stumptown Coffee, Filson (for bedding in business class, and blankets in coach) and Salt & Stone. 

Connectivity improvements are also on the way. Alaska is set to bring ultra-fast Starlink Wi-Fi to its 787-9 aircraft in fall 2026, with the service to be free for Atmos Rewards members thanks to T-Mobile.

Andrew Harrison, Chief Commercial Officer of Alaska Airlines, framed the broader ambition: 

"With our nonstop service from Seattle to Rome and London, we're opening the door to two of the world's most iconic regions with the style and care our guests expect from us. These new routes mark a tremendous step in our global expansion and reflect our commitment to delivering a premium international experience from Seattle." 

The Road to 12 Intercontinental Destinations by 2030

By 2030, Alaska plans to serve at least 12 intercontinental destinations from Seattle, with additional routes to be announced in the years to come. For now, the immediate and historic milestone is just nineteen days away.

Alaska Airlines 2026 European Route Schedule

Alaska Airlines stands at a watershed moment. A carrier that spent its first nine decades serving the rugged communities of the Pacific Northwest and the beaches of Hawaii is now, in the final weeks of April 2026, preparing to plant its flag on European soil for the very first time. With proving flights completed, slots secured, and tickets selling fast, the countdown to AS180's inaugural departure from Seattle to Rome is well and truly on. 

For the millions of travellers across Washington, Oregon, and beyond who have long had to route through Chicago, New York, or other congested hubs to reach Europe, Alaska's transatlantic debut is not just a new flight; it is a fundamental change in how the West Coast connects to the world. If the ambition to reach 12 intercontinental destinations from Seattle by 2030 is anything to go by, this is very much just the beginning.